The Commons vote was a victory for anti-war protesters who gathered at Whitehall this weekOli Scarff/Getty

Sonia Elks

Last updated at 11:21AM, August 30 2013

There will be “national soul-searching” about Britain’s role in the world
after MPs handed David Cameron a humiliating defeat over military action in
Syria, the Chancellor said today.

The Prime Minister has been forced to rule out military intervention in the
crisis after 30 Tory rebels and nine Tory and Lib Dems joined Labour last
night in voting down a motion backing the use of force in Syria “if
necessary”.

It was the first time since 1782 that a UK Government has lost a vote about
military action.